This world is different from any world Zhang Chen had traversed before.
It wasn't about the scarcity or abundance of energy, but rather a peculiar sensation it evoked.
At first glance, this world seemed no different from the post-apocalyptic world he knew.
Ruined streets, an eerie sky.
However, from a perceptual standpoint, Zhang Chen felt as though the world before him was a stitched-together realm, or perhaps, a place where the boundaries between multiple parallel worlds converged.
According to Zhang Chen's previous understanding, parallel worlds were like incompatible bubbles, but this world changed his perspective.
"Truly strange... I've never been to a world like this before..."
"This world feels like stepping into a nightmare..."
Zhang Chen walked slowly along the street.
There seemed to be residents in the buildings on both sides of the road, all with their curtains drawn. Occasionally, someone would peek an eye through a gap in the curtains.
When Zhang Chen turned his head, they would quickly hide behind the curtains again.
"Let's focus on the main task first. Where is this anomalous energy fluctuation coming from..."
Zhang Chen expanded his perception slightly...
However, it was empty!
He couldn't perceive anything at all.
It was as if his expanded perception had entered another dimension, sinking without a trace.
"Could it be that this world has too many stitched-together dimensions, rendering my perception unable to function normally?"
"This is going to be tricky. Where am I supposed to find the source of the energy fluctuation?!"
Zhang Chen said with a frown.
"Hey, you should hurry and find a room to hide! It's dangerous outside at night!"
A girl opened her window a crack and reminded Zhang Chen in a disguised voice.
"Are there monsters outside?"
Zhang Chen asked curiously.
"Not monsters, but... just be careful!"
"Especially that villa at 13 Tongfu Road, whatever you do, don't go in!"
The girl dared not speak further, quickly closed the window, and drew the curtains shut again.
"???"
Zhang Chen's expression turned dark.
Good grief, her words were more unhelpful than if she hadn't spoken at all.
If she hadn't said anything, Zhang Chen would have just wandered around casually. The probability of him going to that villa at 13 Tongfu Road was practically zero.
But by saying it, her words had piqued Zhang Chen's curiosity.
"Isn't this deliberately trying to lure me there? They even gave such a specific address?"
"Let's go take a look then!"
Zhang Chen smiled slightly.
With his current strength, there was indeed nothing to worry about.
Could there be any existence more terrifying than himself, someone who could easily destroy an entire world?
Zhang Chen walked to the roadside and looked at the street sign, which indeed read Tongfu Road.
He just needed to follow this road.
As Zhang Chen walked, he paid attention to the house numbers on both sides.
73 Tongfu Road...
65 Tongfu Road...
42 Tongfu Road...
17 Tongfu Road...
Suddenly, a yellowed newspaper was blown up by a sudden gust of wind, fluttering past Zhang Chen.
It read:
"Tragedy at 13 Tongfu Road: The entire family perished. The male owner went mad and killed his wife and young son, even drowning their pet cat in the bathtub. Afterwards, the male owner committed suicide. The cause of the incident remains unknown."
"Over the past decade, people have moved into 13 Tongfu Road one after another. They either went mad, committed suicide, or moved away quickly."
"Now, 13 Tongfu Road has become a veritable haunted house."
In the corner of the newspaper, a missing person notice was also attached: it featured a girl with a sweet smile.
But Zhang Chen was not interested in newspapers, especially one that looked so dirty.
So Zhang Chen easily dodged past the newspaper, paying no attention to its contents.
After walking a short distance further, he finally found 13 Tongfu Road.
The entire villa exuded an ominous aura, with its somber and dilapidated exterior and an overgrown yard.
The glass panes were hazy, and it seemed like figures were drifting past.
"So this is 13 Tongfu Road. Is there something here?"
"I hope it's related to the energy fluctuations, otherwise, searching in such a vast world would be like looking for a needle in a haystack."
Zhang Chen muttered as he slowly walked into the yard.
The grass here had not been tended for a long time, growing to about a meter high and looking messy.
Whoosh!
With a flick of Zhang Chen's finger, a ball of flames instantly spread out in all directions with him as the center.
The fire was extremely powerful, but precise, burning away all the weeds in the yard, leaving only scorched earth.
Only then did Zhang Chen clearly see a children's swing in the corner of the yard.
"This looks much better!"
Zhang Chen walked to the villa's main entrance and gently pulled the door.
Clang...
A locking sound came from inside.
"It's okay, I'm not afraid even if it's locked!"
Zhang Chen smiled slightly, just about to exert a little force.
Creak...
The rusty door opened on its own.
A wave of cold, damp air, mixed with the smell of decay, surged out from the gap in the door.
"How long has this room not been ventilated!"
Zhang Chen frowned, opened the main door, and then moved his mind.
A strong whirlwind swept through the room.
Before long, the air in the entire villa was refreshed.
"Now it's habitable..."
Zhang Chen mumbled.
Suddenly, a pale-faced little boy appeared at the top of the stairs. He looked at Zhang Chen silently, then suddenly ran upstairs.
"Is someone still living here?"
"That's great, little brother, I have some questions for you!"
"Do you feel anything unusual about this house, or anything unusual around here..."
Fearing that his speed might damage the house, Zhang Chen chased after him, trying his best to maintain a normal pace.
On the second floor, the little boy stood at the door of a room, continuing to look at Zhang Chen, then turned and walked inside.
Zhang Chen followed closely behind.
Inside the room, the little boy was kneeling on the ground, looking through his drawing book.
The drawing book depicted his mother, father, himself, and a black cat, appearing to be a happy family.
As the boy flipped through the pages, the style of the drawings gradually became strange.
It was normal for a little boy to like drawing fights and battles, but the level of gore in these drawings had exceeded a child's artistic scope.
Even an adult would not create such cruel scenes.
Blood, severed heads, dismembered limbs, sharp blades, and terrifying grimaces...
If an ordinary person saw such images, coupled with the boy's unusual appearance, they would surely be terrified.
However, Zhang Chen had seen far more gruesome scenes of death and human suffering, so he felt nothing.
He just thought the boy had suffered psychological trauma.
"Little brother, are you living here alone? Where is your mother?"
Zhang Chen asked gently.
Upon hearing the word "mother," the little boy slowly turned his head, casting his gaze behind Zhang Chen...